Sometimes, there isn’t much to say. 

Beneath the glitz and glamor of commercials that depict families receiving expensive cars, jewelry, electronic devices, and vacations to the Caribbean, there are people who are happy just to get the basics. There are no diamond necklaces for these folks. They aren’t going outside on Christmas morning and seeing a brand-new SUV or Jeep Wrangler in the driveway.

A pair of pants would be nice, though. Or gloves. Or better yet, wool socks — as feet can get mighty cold in a home where the heat’s turned down to the point where it can be afforded. Perhaps a week’s worth of groceries to help provide some relief from the pressures of making ends meet would be just as thoughtful.

Believe it or not, people are eternally grateful for these seemingly small gestures of thoughtfulness. 

“First of all, I want to say thank you very much for all the toys (that) you provide (for) kids,” a mother writes to Item Santa. “Thank you… and have a blessed and happy New Year.”

Things aren’t easy for this family, the mother explains. 

“We are a family with only one income, my husband’s,” she writes. “And lately, he’s not getting many hours of work. That is the reason we have to apply for gifts.”

Here’s just another of thousands of examples that people who have had every advantage in life often need to see about what the real world is like. The great majority of people follow the rules. They want to work. They want to contribute. They want to help their families, and provide for them the same benefits they see others around them receiving.

Unfortunately, that isn’t always possible. You might read about all these open positions, and that there aren’t enough people willing to perform certain jobs. Then, you read letters such as this one, written by someone whose husband has a job but can’t get enough hours to make a salary that keeps pace with the growing demands of life, and it’s not hard to see where the disconnect lies.

Item Santa isn’t only for the totally destitute. It also helps families such as this one, that follow the rules but come up painfully short. 

Now in its 57th year, the Item Santa fund helps to make Christmas brighter for the needy. To donate, clip the coupon in The Item and mail it, along with your check, to The Item Salvation Army Santa, PO Box 5, Lynn, MA 01903. 

There is also a way to donate online through the Salvation Army at https://www.itemlive.com/itemsanta

All donations are listed in Item print editions through the month of December and into 2024, along with a brief message from each donor, if desired.

NOTE: The application period for aid from Item Santa has closed and The Item does not process applicants. All questions about the program and distribution of gifts should be directed to the Salvation Army at 781-598-0673.